Gregorios of Parumala

Description

Saint Geevargese Mar Gregorios popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni (Bishop of Parumala) (15 June 1848 – 2 November 1902) was a bishop of the Malankara Syrian Church. He is also known as Chathuruthil Kochu Thirumeni. He became a deacon at the age of 10, a priest at the age of 18, a bishop at the young age of 28. He died at the age of 54 and was buried at St.Peters and St.Pauls Orthodox Church, Parumala. In 1947, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church declared Mar Gregorios as a saint. He is the first canonized Christian saint from India.Gregorios was born as Kochu Ipeora in the priestly family of ‘Chaturuthil’ in the village of Mulanthuruthy near Kochi on 15 June 1848. His parents, Kochu Mathai and Maryam, had three sons and two daughters. Soon after the birth of the fifth child, Ipeora Maryam died. His elder sister Maryam, who was married to Varkey of Palal Kalappurackal Vadakkeveedu (Kurinji) near Puthencruz, brought him up. He christened as Geevargese at the Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Church. Gregorios was taught by his father’s brother who was a Malpan (Syriac: ‘Malfono’ ; a Syrian scholar-priest).